Clermont Times

Washington, D.C. - The GOP Doctors Caucus has expressed its strong opposition to the final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 3.4 percent. In a statement, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., co-chair of the caucus, highlighted the negative impact this decision will have on independent physicians, small businesses, and patients in rural communities across the nation.

"Amidst increased practice expenses and workforce shortages, decreasing rates will further drive physicians out of independent practice, consolidating sites of service and leaving patients without accessible patient-centered care," said Congressman Murphy. He emphasized the need for Congress to take action to ensure a sustainable Medicare system that can effectively serve the 65 million Medicare beneficiaries in the country.

Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M., another co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, echoed these concerns and shared the experiences of many physicians and providers who have been forced to stop accepting Medicare or even close their practices due to previous decisions to decrease reimbursement rates. He emphasized that these rates are not keeping up with the rising costs faced by medical practices.

"This country faces critical shortages in access to quality health care, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and this CMS decision will only further hurt these patients," said Congressman Wenstrup. He called upon Congress to take action to protect both patients and providers and ensure the long-term sustainability of Medicare.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., also a co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, emphasized the unity of the caucus in opposing the CMS decision. He highlighted the disproportionate impact of reduced reimbursement on physicians and small independent practices that serve as a lifeline for rural areas and communities throughout America. Congressman Burgess expressed concern that the combination of reimbursement cuts, physician burnout, a limited healthcare workforce, and practice consolidation would have detrimental effects on the healthcare ecosystem.

The CMS rule to reduce Medicare reimbursement for physician services comes at a time when rising costs and shrinking reimbursement rates threaten Medicare beneficiaries' access to healthcare. It also exacerbates vertical consolidation and drives patients towards higher-cost service sites. Last month, the GOP Doctors Caucus released a discussion draft of legislation aimed at addressing these issues by reforming the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).

The proposed legislation includes measures such as changing the threshold for applying budget neutrality to reflect the increase in the Medicare Economic Index, creating a lookback period for overestimates or underestimates in MPFS spending, updating prices for direct expenses related to budget neutrality adjustments, and limiting year-to-year variance in the conversion factor to provide stability for the MPFS.

The GOP Doctors Caucus remains committed to improving the reimbursement system and empowering physicians to continue serving American seniors. They advocate for the protection of Medicare beneficiaries' access to quality healthcare and the sustainability of the Medicare system.

In conclusion, the GOP Doctors Caucus strongly opposes the CMS final rule to decrease physician reimbursement and calls upon Congress to take action to protect patients and providers while ensuring the long-term viability of Medicare.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://wenstrup.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=407942